for more on the fiscal cliff stalemate. let's bring in angela mcglowan, and dick, from the south carolina democratic party. look, i've got the questions prepared and i've got to ask the fundamental question most americans are requesting, what the heck is going on with the house and president obama. >> didn't we learn in 2011, where the government seemed less stable and our triple-a rating went down to a double-a rating and right now, john thune was right, it takes time to bush legislation through and we can't have a deal cut on christmas eve. >> is this brinksmanship on behalf of the president and time geithner, his treasury secretary, in terms of what the dems are now offering congress? >> no, i think the president has made a riegsal offer and of course, it's an opening offer, but that silence is deafening for the republicans, for the republicans' response. their political lemmings getting ready to go off the fiscal cliff and rather do that and not violate the no tax pledge they made to grover norquist than to move the bal